Bugs and mould blight home and affect health of daughter of young mum

A DESPERATE Portland mum says her mould and bug-ridden home is affecting her baby’s health.

Shanice Ealson, 20, moved into Weston Street just three weeks ago and has since discovered that the two-bedroom social housing property is also home to a whole host of unexpected problems.

From fungi sprouting from the ceiling, to black mould on the walls and bugs crawling in every room, the young mum says her one-year-old daughter Tia is suffering in the ‘unacceptable’ conditions.

She is now speaking out against Synergy Housing for the lack of action despite daily phone calls.

When the young mum first went to view the Portland home, she said she was taken aback with its potential and signed on the dotted line.

But within days of moving in, she claims her living conditions rapidly deteriorated.

She told the Echo: “I can’t believe they have moved a mother and daughter into this place, it needs knocking down and rebuilding.

“When I first looked around it was great but they’d obviously covered up all the problems just to get me to take it.

“I spent money on decorating and painted all the walls but within days I was surrounded by mould, fungi and bugs.”

The situation has become so bad in the last week, that little Tia has been staying with a family member due to her declining health.

The mum added: “I can’t put curtains up nor have carpets fitted because when it rains the water seeps through the windows and doors.

“Bugs have been crawling out of the floorboards near my bed – I can’t sleep here.

“When I moved in they mentioned there had been a leak but that it would ‘dry’ up.

“My daughter and I have both been so poorly – all it would take is for her to put her hand on the wall and touch the mould.

“I can’t believe I’m living like this – it is just unacceptable.”

n Cllr Ray Nowak, spokesman for housing, said: “The borough council works alongside private landlords and housing associations to ensure they follow strict guidelines so that all properties provide a safe and healthy environment for tenants.

“In extreme cases where we do not feel a private landlord or housing association are taking the appropriate action to deal effectively with a hazard, we reserve the right to take formal action to bring about a resolution.

“We cannot comment on individual cases.”

A SPOKESMAN for Synergy Housing said: “We’re liaising with a customer living in one of our properties in Weston Street, Portland, regarding some issues she’s been experiencing with damp in her home.

“Our customers are our top priority and we’re always sorry to hear about any problems.

“Before the customer moved in recently, we’d carried out a number of repair works at the property following some problems with water ingress.

“Unfortunately, due to the severity of the recent bad weather on Portland and the exposed location this property is in, these haven’t been effective. We’re visiting the property again to determine the work which will need to be undertaken to resolve this.”